KANSAS CITY (AP) — Officials in a suburban Kansas City school district are investigating after a small group of students posted a petition online calling for the return of slavery.

The petition came to light last week after the students at Park Hill South High School posted it during a school-related activity, officials said.

Further details about the number of students involved, the specific language of the petition or what might have prompted it were not being released because it is a discipline issue, district spokeswoman Nicole Kirby said Wednesday.

Jeanette Cowherd, superintendent of the Park Hill School District, said in a letter to the community Wednesday that the district does not tolerate discrimination or harassment and has specific policies addressing any violations, which could result in a suspension or expulsion.

The district also has a policy on civility that prohibits attacks against people based on factors such as race, gender, religion, disability or other personal characteristics.

“I cannot share the specifics of any particular student's discipline but I can tell you that we follow our Board policy when disciplining students,” she wrote.

Kerrie Herren, principal of Park Hill South, said a student notified him of the petition last Thursday and school officials have been working since then to help students and staff who are upset by the incident.

“I think that a large portion of our population is hurt, mad, outraged and confused and want to use it as way to make Park Hill South better," Herren said.

The Park Hill district had a student population of 11,767 this school year, of which about 12.7% were Black. The district instituted an inclusion and equity council with teachers in 2015, which led to student focus groups and eventually a family advisory council on the issue.

Terri Deayon, the district's director of access, inclusion and family engagement, said district and school officials have met with student groups and staff at Park Hill South and at LEAD Innovation Studio, a separate school on the Park Hill South campus that offers a different educational approach to students.

"I wholeheartedly believe we are in a situation that we are going to confront, restore and heal," Deayon said. “We will be better and we will take this and use it as an opportunity to improve.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632359737253.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Officials in a suburban Kansas City school district are investigating after a small group of students posted a petition online calling for the return of slavery.The petition came to light last week after the students at Park Hill South High School posted it during a school-related activity, officials said.Further details about the number of students involved, the specific language of the petition or what might have prompted it were not being released because it is a discipline issue, district spokeswoman Nicole Kirby said Wednesday.Jeanette Cowherd, superintendent of the Park Hill School District, said in a letter to the community Wednesday that the district does not tolerate discrimination or harassment and has specific policies addressing any violations, which could result in a suspension or expulsion.The district also has a policy on civility that prohibits attacks against people based on factors such as race, gender, religion, disability or other personal characteristics.“I cannot share the specifics of any particular student's discipline but I can tell you that we follow our Board policy when disciplining students,” she wrote.Kerrie Herren, principal of Park Hill South, said a student notified him of the petition last Thursday and school officials have been working since then to help students and staff who are upset by the incident.“I think that a large portion of our population is hurt, mad, outraged and confused and want to use it as way to make Park Hill South better," Herren said.The Park Hill district had a student population of 11,767 this school year, of which about 12.7% were Black. The district instituted an inclusion and equity council with teachers in 2015, which led to student focus groups and eventually a family advisory council on the issue.Terri Deayon, the district's director of access, inclusion and family engagement, said district and school officials have met with student groups and staff at Park Hill South and at LEAD Innovation Studio, a separate school on the Park Hill South campus that offers a different educational approach to students."I wholeheartedly believe we are in a situation that we are going to confront, restore and heal," Deayon said. “We will be better and we will take this and use it as an opportunity to improve.”

District: KC-area students posted slavery petition online

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. moved a step closer Wednesday to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus as the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the targeted use of extra shots.

The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger adults with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

However, more regulatory hurdles lie ahead before the dispensing of boosters can begin.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened a two-day meeting Wednesday to make their own, more specific recommendations about who should get the extra shots and when. And in their first day of discussions, some experts were so perplexed by the questions surrounding the rationale for boosters that they suggested putting off a decision for a month in hopes of more evidence.

The uncertainties were yet another reminder that the science surrounding boosters is more complicated than the Biden administration suggested when the president and his top aides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-booster-shots-a10daad08f6d47aa5beca0b4da9da9d2">rolled out their plan at the White House&nbsp;</a>last month.

The FDA decision Wednesday was expected after the agency’s own panel of advisers last week overwhelmingly rejected the Biden plan. The panel instead recommended boosters only for those most vulnerable to severe cases of COVID-19.

FDA acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that the FDA authorization would allow for boosters in health care workers, teachers, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons.

“As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed,” Woodcock said.

Under the FDA authorization, vaccinated Americans are eligible for a third dose six months after receiving their second Pfizer shot. That’s different than the Biden proposal announced in August, which called for boosters after eight months.

“Today’s FDA decision is a major step forward in our effort to provide Americans with additional protection from COVID-19,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Wednesday night. “We have been preparing for weeks to administer booster shots to eligible Americans and are ready to do so following CDC’s final recommendation later this week.”

The timing of the FDA decision was highly unusual given that the agency typically takes action before the CDC convenes its own experts.

The CDC panelists heard a series of presentations Wednesday outlining the knotty state of science on boosters. On one hand, the COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. On the other hand, there are signs of more low-grade infections among the vaccinated as immunity wanes.

Ultimately the committee must decide who is considered at high enough risk for an extra dose. Data provided by Pfizer and the Israeli government suggests a strong case for boosters in people 65 and older, but there is less evidence that extra shots provide much benefit for younger people with underlying health conditions.

Several CDC advisers agreed boosters are also important for keeping health care workers on the job.

“We don’t have enough health care workers to take care of the unvaccinated,” said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University. “They just keep coming.”

The CDC has already said it is considering boosters for older people, nursing home residents and front-line health care workers, rather than all adults.

The World Health Organization and other global health advocates are opposed to wealthy nations dispensing a third round of shots when poor countries don’t have enough vaccine for their first doses. And many independent scientists say that the vaccines continue to perform well against the worst effects of COVID-19 and that their ability to curb the overall trajectory of the epidemic is uncertain.

U.S. regulators will decide at a later date on boosters for people who have received the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines. They indicated the Pfizer shots would not be recommended for people who got a different brand of vaccine initially.

The across-the-board rollout of boosters proposed by the White House was supposed to have begun this week. Some questioned whether President Joe Biden had gotten ahead of the science by announcing his plans before government regulators had reached any conclusions.

Despite the resistance in recent days, some top U.S. health officials said they expect boosters to eventually win broader approval in the coming weeks or months. Dr. Anthony Fauci said over the weekend that “this is not the end of the story.”

Other administration officials noted that the FDA decision covers tens of millions of Americans and that seniors and other high-risk groups would have been the first to get boosters even if extra shots had been authorized for the entire population. Seniors were in the first group of Americans eligible for vaccination last December.

The U.S. has already authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients. Other Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by asking.

The U.S. is dispensing around 760,000 vaccinations per day on average, down from a high of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. About 180 million Americans are fully vaccinated, or 64% of those who are eligible.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. moved a step closer Wednesday to offering booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to senior citizens and others at high risk from the virus as the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the targeted use of extra shots.The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger adults with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.However, more regulatory hurdles lie ahead before the dispensing of boosters can begin.Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened a two-day meeting Wednesday to make their own, more specific recommendations about who should get the extra shots and when. And in their first day of discussions, some experts were so perplexed by the questions surrounding the rationale for boosters that they suggested putting off a decision for a month in hopes of more evidence.The uncertainties were yet another reminder that the science surrounding boosters is more complicated than the Biden administration suggested when the president and his top aides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-vaccine-booster-shots-a10daad08f6d47aa5beca0b4da9da9d2">rolled out their plan at the White House&nbsp;</a>last month.The FDA decision Wednesday was expected after the agency’s own panel of advisers last week overwhelmingly rejected the Biden plan. The panel instead recommended boosters only for those most vulnerable to severe cases of COVID-19.FDA acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that the FDA authorization would allow for boosters in health care workers, teachers, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons.“As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed,” Woodcock said.Under the FDA authorization, vaccinated Americans are eligible for a third dose six months after receiving their second Pfizer shot. That’s different than the Biden proposal announced in August, which called for boosters after eight months.“Today’s FDA decision is a major step forward in our effort to provide Americans with additional protection from COVID-19,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Wednesday night. “We have been preparing for weeks to administer booster shots to eligible Americans and are ready to do so following CDC’s final recommendation later this week.”The timing of the FDA decision was highly unusual given that the agency typically takes action before the CDC convenes its own experts.The CDC panelists heard a series of presentations Wednesday outlining the knotty state of science on boosters. On one hand, the COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death. On the other hand, there are signs of more low-grade infections among the vaccinated as immunity wanes.Ultimately the committee must decide who is considered at high enough risk for an extra dose. Data provided by Pfizer and the Israeli government suggests a strong case for boosters in people 65 and older, but there is less evidence that extra shots provide much benefit for younger people with underlying health conditions.Several CDC advisers agreed boosters are also important for keeping health care workers on the job.“We don’t have enough health care workers to take care of the unvaccinated,” said Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University. “They just keep coming.”The CDC has already said it is considering boosters for older people, nursing home residents and front-line health care workers, rather than all adults.The World Health Organization and other global health advocates are opposed to wealthy nations dispensing a third round of shots when poor countries don’t have enough vaccine for their first doses. And many independent scientists say that the vaccines continue to perform well against the worst effects of COVID-19 and that their ability to curb the overall trajectory of the epidemic is uncertain.U.S. regulators will decide at a later date on boosters for people who have received the Moderna or Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccines. They indicated the Pfizer shots would not be recommended for people who got a different brand of vaccine initially.The across-the-board rollout of boosters proposed by the White House was supposed to have begun this week. Some questioned whether President Joe Biden had gotten ahead of the science by announcing his plans before government regulators had reached any conclusions.Despite the resistance in recent days, some top U.S. health officials said they expect boosters to eventually win broader approval in the coming weeks or months. Dr. Anthony Fauci said over the weekend that “this is not the end of the story.”Other administration officials noted that the FDA decision covers tens of millions of Americans and that seniors and other high-risk groups would have been the first to get boosters even if extra shots had been authorized for the entire population. Seniors were in the first group of Americans eligible for vaccination last December.The U.S. has already authorized third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and transplant recipients. Other Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by asking.The U.S. is dispensing around 760,000 vaccinations per day on average, down from a high of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. About 180 million Americans are fully vaccinated, or 64% of those who are eligible.___

FDA OKs extra shots of Pfizer COVID vaccine for seniors, others at high risk

MEADE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Meade County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by Neil&nbsp;Peters-Krahn, 53, Montezuma, Kan. was northbound on Road 26 nine miles east of Kansas 23.

The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. A&nbsp; westbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Victor Manuel Campos-Ramirez, Victor Manuel, 59, Los Angeles, CA., struck the Dodge Ram.

Peters-Krahn was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Campos-Ramirez to the hospital in Meade. Peters-Krahn was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

MEADE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Meade County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by Neil&nbsp;Peters-Krahn, 53, Montezuma, Kan. was northbound on Road 26 nine miles east of Kansas 23.The driver failed to yield at U.S. 54. A&nbsp; westbound 2018 Freightliner semi driven by Victor Manuel Campos-Ramirez, Victor Manuel, 59, Los Angeles, CA., struck the Dodge Ram.Peters-Krahn was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Campos-Ramirez to the hospital in Meade. Peters-Krahn was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after crash with a semi

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Missouri Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday asked a state appeals court to intervene in the case of a Kansas City man who Jackson County prosecutors have said was wrongfully convicted of a triple murder more than 40 years ago.

Last week, Judge Kevin Harrell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-missouri-d13bceef618a479e8cd02b991fe1c8d9">denied a motion</a>&nbsp;from Schmitt's office asking that he and other Jackson County judges be removed from presiding over a hearing that would determine if Kevin Strickland will be exonerated of the 1998 murders in Kansas City.

In Wednesday's motion, Schmitt is asking the appeals court to remove the judges and move the hearing out of Jackson County, KCTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/missouri-attorney-general-argues-kevin-strickland-case-needs-to-be-moved-out-of-jackson-county/article_d73d7c14-1bec-11ec-8065-3bdccbd6edeb.html?block_id=991162">reported</a>.

Schmitt, who has said he believes Strickland is guilty, has argued that judges in the 16th Circuit Court have shown bias in Strickland's favor.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced in May that she and other legal and political leaders believe Strickland is innocent. She said two men who admitted guilt in the shootings have said Strickland wasn't with them, and the only witness who identified him as the killer recanted her statement before she died.

Peters Baker used a new law that took effect in August to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">petition for a hearing during which she would argue Strickland should be exonerated.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620695920927.png" alt="Strickland photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Strickland photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Missouri Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday asked a state appeals court to intervene in the case of a Kansas City man who Jackson County prosecutors have said was wrongfully convicted of a triple murder more than 40 years ago.Last week, Judge Kevin Harrell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-missouri-d13bceef618a479e8cd02b991fe1c8d9">denied a motion</a>&nbsp;from Schmitt's office asking that he and other Jackson County judges be removed from presiding over a hearing that would determine if Kevin Strickland will be exonerated of the 1998 murders in Kansas City.In Wednesday's motion, Schmitt is asking the appeals court to remove the judges and move the hearing out of Jackson County, KCTV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/missouri-attorney-general-argues-kevin-strickland-case-needs-to-be-moved-out-of-jackson-county/article_d73d7c14-1bec-11ec-8065-3bdccbd6edeb.html?block_id=991162">reported</a>.Schmitt, who has said he believes Strickland is guilty, has argued that judges in the 16th Circuit Court have shown bias in Strickland's favor.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced in May that she and other legal and political leaders believe Strickland is innocent. She said two men who admitted guilt in the shootings have said Strickland wasn't with them, and the only witness who identified him as the killer recanted her statement before she died.Peters Baker used a new law that took effect in August to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">petition for a hearing during which she would argue Strickland should be exonerated.</a>

AG appeals ruling on judges in Kansas City triple-murder

The
 Federal Trade Commission is sending refund checks totaling nearly $5 
million to people who lost money to a cramming scheme that added charges
 to their home phone bills without their permission.

The refunds stem from money the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/05/company-placed-crammed-charges-consumers-phone-bills-settles-ftc">FTC collected from a group of defendants</a>
 who admitted that they violated a 1999 FTC settlement order that 
prohibited them from unauthorized billing. For years, the defendants, 
Billing Services Group (BSG), operated as a phone billing aggregator, 
passing charges from third parties to telephone companies so that those 
charges could be placed on consumers’ landline telephone bills. The 
defendants admitted that they did not vet the charges before processing 
them and did not investigate consumer complaints about unauthorized 
charges.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>The
 FTC will be sending 86,752 checks averaging about $56 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-591-4238. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.

The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and file a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint">consumer complaint online</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619632629588.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FTCThe
 Federal Trade Commission is sending refund checks totaling nearly $5 
million to people who lost money to a cramming scheme that added charges
 to their home phone bills without their permission.The refunds stem from money the <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2016/05/company-placed-crammed-charges-consumers-phone-bills-settles-ftc">FTC collected from a group of defendants</a>
 who admitted that they violated a 1999 FTC settlement order that 
prohibited them from unauthorized billing. For years, the defendants, 
Billing Services Group (BSG), operated as a phone billing aggregator, 
passing charges from third parties to telephone companies so that those 
charges could be placed on consumers’ landline telephone bills. The 
defendants admitted that they did not vet the charges before processing 
them and did not investigate consumer complaints about unauthorized 
charges.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase"></a>The
 FTC will be sending 86,752 checks averaging about $56 each. People who 
receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days, as indicated 
on the check. Recipients who have questions about their checks can call 
the refund administrator, Epiq, at 800-591-4238. The FTC never requires 
people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund 
check.The FTC’s <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data(link is external)</a>
 provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions
 led to more than $483 million in refunds to consumers across the 
country, but recently the United States Supreme Court ruled the FTC 
lacks authority under Section 13(b) to seek monetary relief in federal 
court going forward. The <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2021/04/ftc-asks-congress-pass-legislation-reviving-agencys-authority">Commission has urged Congress</a> to restore the FTC’s ability to get money back for consumers.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. You can <a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/">learn more about consumer topics</a> and file a <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/complaint">consumer complaint online</a> or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).&nbsp;For the latest news and resources, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/social-media">follow the FTC on social media</a>, <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/stay-connected">subscribe to press releases</a> and read our <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs">blogs</a>.

FTC sends nearly $5 million to victims of phone bill scheme

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state education official said Wednesday that a Kansas middle school student has died of COVID-19.

The child’s death would be the first reported COVID-19 death of someone aged 10 to 17 in Kansas and only the third reported for someone under 18.

(Click below to listen to Education Commissioner Randy Watson's comments on the student's death)

Education Commissioner Randy Watson disclosed the death during a Zoom meeting of a task force on COVID-19 safety measures in public schools appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly.

“On an extremely sad note, I was just informed ... that we did have a student, a middle school student, pass away of COVID just in the last maybe day,” Watson told the group but he provided no further details.

The State Department of Education referred questions to the Department of Health and Environment, but its spokesperson did not immediately return messages seeking more details.

Meanwhile, the health department reported 11 new COVID-19 clusters at schools. The department’s data showed 72 active school outbreaks across Kansas, with 537 cases and one hospitalization.

The heath department’s presentation to the governor’s workgroup noted the “drastic increase in outbreaks this week (is) likely due in part to improved reporting.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state education official said Wednesday that a Kansas middle school student has died of COVID-19.The child’s death would be the first reported COVID-19 death of someone aged 10 to 17 in Kansas and only the third reported for someone under 18.(Click below to listen to Education Commissioner Randy Watson's comments on the student's death)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_jcurOTJek?start=1567" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Education Commissioner Randy Watson disclosed the death during a Zoom meeting of a task force on COVID-19 safety measures in public schools appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly.“On an extremely sad note, I was just informed ... that we did have a student, a middle school student, pass away of COVID just in the last maybe day,” Watson told the group but he provided no further details.The State Department of Education referred questions to the Department of Health and Environment, but its spokesperson did not immediately return messages seeking more details.Meanwhile, the health department reported 11 new COVID-19 clusters at schools. The department’s data showed 72 active school outbreaks across Kansas, with 537 cases and one hospitalization.The heath department’s presentation to the governor’s workgroup noted the “drastic increase in outbreaks this week (is) likely due in part to improved reporting.”

🎥  Education official: Kan. middle school student died of COVID-19

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has awarded new contracts 
to three private-sector collection agencies for collection of overdue 
tax debts. The new contracts begin Thursday following today's expiration
 of the old contracts.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, taxpayers with unpaid tax bills may be contacted by one of the following three agencies:

CBE Group, Inc. 
PO Box 2217 
Waterloo, IA 50704 
800-910-5837

Coast Professional, Inc. 
PO Box 526 
Albion, NY 14411 
888-928-0510

ConServe 
PO Box 307 
Fairport, NY 14450 
844-853-4875

Notification by IRS and the private collection agencies

The IRS will always notify a taxpayer before transferring their account to a private collection agency (PCA).

The private collectors will identify themselves as contractors 
collecting taxes on behalf of the IRS. Employees of these collection 
agencies must follow the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection 
Practices Act, and like IRS employees, must be courteous and must 
respect taxpayer rights.

Private firms are not authorized to take enforcement actions against 
taxpayers. Only IRS employees can take these actions, such as filing a 
notice of Federal Tax Lien or issuing a levy.

The private firms are authorized to discuss payment options, 
including setting up payment agreements with taxpayers. But as with 
cases assigned to IRS employees, any tax payment must be made directly 
to the IRS. A payment should never be sent to the private firm or anyone
 besides the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. Checks should only be made 
payable to the United States Treasury. To find out more about available 
payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.

The IRS established the Private Debt Collection program in 2016, as 
authorized under federal law, and contracted with several agencies to 
collect certain unpaid tax debts on the government's behalf. To learn 
more about the private debt collection program, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection">Private Debt Collection</a> page. Additional information can be found at the following links:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has awarded new contracts 
to three private-sector collection agencies for collection of overdue 
tax debts. The new contracts begin Thursday following today's expiration
 of the old contracts.Beginning Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, taxpayers with unpaid tax bills may be contacted by one of the following three agencies:CBE Group, Inc. 
PO Box 2217 
Waterloo, IA 50704 
800-910-5837Coast Professional, Inc. 
PO Box 526 
Albion, NY 14411 
888-928-0510ConServe 
PO Box 307 
Fairport, NY 14450 
844-853-4875<h2>Notification by IRS and the private collection agencies</h2>The IRS will always notify a taxpayer before transferring their account to a private collection agency (PCA).<ul>
 <li>First, the IRS will send a letter to the taxpayer and their tax 
representative informing them that their account was assigned to a PCA 
and giving the name and contact information for the PCA. This mailing 
will include a copy of <a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4518.pdf">Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency</a>. 
	&nbsp;</li><li>Following IRS notification, the PCA will send its own letter to the
 taxpayer and their representative confirming the account transfer. To 
protect the taxpayer's privacy and security, both the IRS letter and the
 PCA's letter will contain information that will help taxpayers identify
 the tax amount owed and assure taxpayers that future collection agency 
calls they may receive are legitimate.</li>
 </ul><h2>How it works</h2>The private collectors will identify themselves as contractors 
collecting taxes on behalf of the IRS. Employees of these collection 
agencies must follow the provisions of the Fair Debt Collection 
Practices Act, and like IRS employees, must be courteous and must 
respect taxpayer rights.Private firms are not authorized to take enforcement actions against 
taxpayers. Only IRS employees can take these actions, such as filing a 
notice of Federal Tax Lien or issuing a levy.<h2>Payment options</h2>The private firms are authorized to discuss payment options, 
including setting up payment agreements with taxpayers. But as with 
cases assigned to IRS employees, any tax payment must be made directly 
to the IRS. A payment should never be sent to the private firm or anyone
 besides the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. Checks should only be made 
payable to the United States Treasury. To find out more about available 
payment options, visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments">IRS.gov/payments</a>.<h2>More information</h2>The IRS established the Private Debt Collection program in 2016, as 
authorized under federal law, and contracted with several agencies to 
collect certain unpaid tax debts on the government's behalf. To learn 
more about the private debt collection program, visit the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection">Private Debt Collection</a> page. Additional information can be found at the following links:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection-accounts-assigned-to-private-collection-agencies">Private Debt Collection – Accounts Assigned to Private Collection Agencies</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/private-debt-collection-faqs-0">Questions and answers</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript">Get Transcript</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuONAnr38Bk">Private Collection of Overdue Taxes YouTube Video</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4518.pdf">Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp40-notice">Understanding Your CP40 Notice</a></li><li><a href="https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-bill-of-rights">Taxpayer Bill of Rights</a></li>
 </ul>

IRS announces new private-sector collection agencies

RENO COUNTY&nbsp; — A Kansas felon arrested following a high speed chase in Reno County made a court appearance Wednesday.

Clancy Nelson, 26,&nbsp; was charged with two counts of kidnapping, distribution of meth, distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of meth, felony flee and elude, flee and elude with reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Nelson fled from law enforcement as they tried to make a vehicle stop in Hutchinson. The chase went south on Avenue A to U.S. 50 and then east at speeds near 100 miles per hour. Deputies were able to force Nelson off the road near Burrton.&nbsp;

One of two passengers in the vehicle 32-year-0ld Heather Smith, was also arrested for drug distribution and other warrants. The second passenger, Spencer Mullen, was released at the scene.

According to the sheriff's office, the two passengers wanted out of the vehicle during the chase but Nelson refused thus the kidnapping charges.&nbsp; Nelson is being held on a bond of $221,000.

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a high-speed chase in Reno County.

A suspect later identified as 26-year-old Clancy Nelson fled from law enforcement as they tried to make a vehicle stop in&nbsp; Hutchinson, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Department.

Nelson,&nbsp; drove south on Avenue A to U.S. 50 and then east at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Deputies were able to force the vehicle off the road near Burrton, where he was taken to the hospital before being taken to jail. 

He faces potential charges of aggravated kidnapping, drug possession and fleeing and eluding. His bond is set at $221,000.&nbsp;

One of two passengers in the vehicle, Heather Smith was also arrested for drug distribution and other warrants. She is jailed on a bond of $28,500. Deputies released a second passenger at the scene.

According to the sheriff's department, the two passengers wanted out of the vehicle during the chase but Nelson refused thus the potential kidnapping charges.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631722267062.png" alt="Nelson has previous convictions for theft, evading a road block and for drugs. He had been on parole since July, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Nelson has previous convictions for theft, evading a road block and for drugs. He had been on parole since July, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY&nbsp; — A Kansas felon arrested following a high speed chase in Reno County made a court appearance Wednesday.Clancy Nelson, 26,&nbsp; was charged with two counts of kidnapping, distribution of meth, distribution and possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of meth, felony flee and elude, flee and elude with reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;Nelson fled from law enforcement as they tried to make a vehicle stop in Hutchinson. The chase went south on Avenue A to U.S. 50 and then east at speeds near 100 miles per hour. Deputies were able to force Nelson off the road near Burrton.&nbsp;One of two passengers in the vehicle 32-year-0ld Heather Smith, was also arrested for drug distribution and other warrants. The second passenger, Spencer Mullen, was released at the scene.According to the sheriff's office, the two passengers wanted out of the vehicle during the chase but Nelson refused thus the kidnapping charges.&nbsp; Nelson is being held on a bond of $221,000.------------RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a high-speed chase in Reno County.A suspect later identified as 26-year-old Clancy Nelson fled from law enforcement as they tried to make a vehicle stop in&nbsp; Hutchinson, according to the Reno County Sheriff's Department.Nelson,&nbsp; drove south on Avenue A to U.S. 50 and then east at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Deputies were able to force the vehicle off the road near Burrton, where he was taken to the hospital before being taken to jail. He faces potential charges of aggravated kidnapping, drug possession and fleeing and eluding. His bond is set at $221,000.&nbsp;One of two passengers in the vehicle, Heather Smith was also arrested for drug distribution and other warrants. She is jailed on a bond of $28,500. Deputies released a second passenger at the scene.According to the sheriff's department, the two passengers wanted out of the vehicle during the chase but Nelson refused thus the potential kidnapping charges.&nbsp;

Kansas felon charged after 100-mph chase with drugs in vehicle

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A suburban Kansas City man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his wife last year.

Larnell McDonald, 64. was sentenced Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the killing of 44-year-old Kimah McDonald.

The shooting happened Aug. 16, 2020, when police were called to the McDonald home in Independence for a domestic dispute. Arriving officers heard a gunshot as they approached the home and later found Kimah McDonald in a bedroom dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Larnell McDonald said he and his estranged wife were arguing when he pointed a gun at her and insisted the gun accidentally fired.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632321782467.png" alt="McDonald photo Jackson Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>McDonald photo Jackson Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A suburban Kansas City man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his wife last year.Larnell McDonald, 64. was sentenced Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the killing of 44-year-old Kimah McDonald.The shooting happened Aug. 16, 2020, when police were called to the McDonald home in Independence for a domestic dispute. Arriving officers heard a gunshot as they approached the home and later found Kimah McDonald in a bedroom dead from a gunshot wound to the head.Larnell McDonald said he and his estranged wife were arguing when he pointed a gun at her and insisted the gun accidentally fired.

Kansas City man sentenced in wife's killing 

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

On Tuesday, the Saline County sheriff's office first reported finding a body&nbsp;near the intersection of S. Halstead Road and W. McReynolds Road. In a news release Tuesday, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan noted that the&nbsp;Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team had been called in. On Wednesday, Soldan said that the case was being investigated as a homicide.

On September 17, Manuel Medina-Castro and members of his immediate family arrived at the Saline County Jail.

Manuel Medina-Castro’s family members reported a vehicle, which Manuel had borrowed from a family member, contained a significant amount of what appeared to be blood and a spent shell casing.

Salina Police Department Detectives responded to the 2500 block of Ambassador Drive, Salina, Kansas, and located the vehicle borrowed by Manuel Medina-Castrol. They also observed a substantial amount of what appeared to be blood inside of the family member’s vehicle. A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and residence. The subsequent search revealed evidence to indicate a violent crime had occurred, a firearm was recovered, and it was believed someone had been grievously injured.

On September 17, 2021, Manuel Medina-Castro, a 27-year-old resident of Salina was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,&nbsp;Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer and&nbsp;Felony Damage to property

Since September 17, 2021, investigators from the Salina Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Saline County Sheriff’s Office have conducted a joint investigation to locate and identify a potential victim.

On Tuesday law enforcement developed information that the victim may be located in the 3100 block of West McReynolds Road, in rural Saline County. During the search of that area, a deceased person was located. Law enforcement is waiting on confirmation of the identity of the victim along with the autopsy results. The autopsy has been scheduled. Notification of the next-of-kin is pending.

On September 22, 2021, the Salina Police Department is requesting the an additional charge of Murder; Second Degree for Manuel Medina-Castro.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631972405111.jpeg" alt="Medina-Castro, Manuel.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Medina-Castro, Manuel.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure> By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostOn Tuesday, the Saline County sheriff's office first reported finding a body&nbsp;near the intersection of S. Halstead Road and W. McReynolds Road. In a news release Tuesday, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan noted that the&nbsp;Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team had been called in. On Wednesday, Soldan said that the case was being investigated as a homicide.On September 17, Manuel Medina-Castro and members of his immediate family arrived at the Saline County Jail.Manuel Medina-Castro’s family members reported a vehicle, which Manuel had borrowed from a family member, contained a significant amount of what appeared to be blood and a spent shell casing.Salina Police Department Detectives responded to the 2500 block of Ambassador Drive, Salina, Kansas, and located the vehicle borrowed by Manuel Medina-Castrol. They also observed a substantial amount of what appeared to be blood inside of the family member’s vehicle. A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and residence. The subsequent search revealed evidence to indicate a violent crime had occurred, a firearm was recovered, and it was believed someone had been grievously injured.On September 17, 2021, Manuel Medina-Castro, a 27-year-old resident of Salina was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,&nbsp;Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer and&nbsp;Felony Damage to propertySince September 17, 2021, investigators from the Salina Police Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Saline County Sheriff’s Office have conducted a joint investigation to locate and identify a potential victim.On Tuesday law enforcement developed information that the victim may be located in the 3100 block of West McReynolds Road, in rural Saline County. During the search of that area, a deceased person was located. Law enforcement is waiting on confirmation of the identity of the victim along with the autopsy results. The autopsy has been scheduled. Notification of the next-of-kin is pending.On September 22, 2021, the Salina Police Department is requesting the an additional charge of Murder; Second Degree for Manuel Medina-Castro.

Suspect accused after man's body found in rural Saline. Co.

DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Three hours after being freed from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-mexico-texas-caribbean-united-states-ac7f598bafd44b3f95b786d2d800f3ce">giant migrant camp&nbsp;</a>under an international bridge, Mackenson Veillard stood outside a gas station and took stock of his sudden good fortune as he and pregnant wife waited for a Greyhound bus to take them to a cousin in San Antonio.

The couple camped with thousands for a week under the bridge in Del Rio, Texas, sleeping on concrete and getting by on bread and bottled water.

“I felt so stressed,” Veillard, 25, said this week. “But now, I feel better. It’s like I’m starting a new life.”

Many Haitian migrants in Del Rio are being released in the United States, according to two U.S. officials, undercutting the Biden administration’s public statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion to Haiti.

Haitians have been freed on a “very, very large scale” in recent days, one official said Tuesday. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter and thus spoke on condition of anonymity, put the figure in the thousands.

Many have been released with notices to appear at an immigration office within 60 days, an outcome that requires less processing time from Border Patrol agents than ordering an appearance in immigration court and points to the speed at which authorities are moving.

The releases come despite a massive effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-haiti-c01b09afb49c4586fdd718031d32402a">expel Haitians on flights</a>&nbsp;under pandemic-related authority that denies migrants a chance to seek asylum. A third U.S. official not authorized to discuss operations said there were seven daily flights to Haiti planned starting Wednesday.

Ten flights arrived in Haiti from Sunday to Tuesday in planes designed for 135 passengers, according to Haitian officials, who didn’t provide a complete count but said six of those flights carried 713 migrants combined.

The camp held more than 14,000 people over the weekend, according to some estimates. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, during a visit Tuesday to Del Rio, said the county’s top official told him the most recent tally was about 8,600 migrants. U.S. authorities have declined to say how many have been released in the U.S. in recent days.

The Homeland Security Department has been busing Haitians from Del Rio, a town of 35,000 people, to El Paso, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley along the Texas border, and this week added flights to Tucson, Arizona, the official said. They are processed by the Border Patrol at those locations.

Criteria for deciding who is flown to Haiti and who is released in the U.S. is a mystery but two officials said single adults were a priority. If previous handling of asylum-seekers is any guide, the administration is more likely to release those deemed vulnerable, including pregnant women, families with young children and those with medical issues.

The Biden administration exempts unaccompanied children from expulsion flights on humanitarian grounds.

Wilgens Jean and his wife Junia Michel waited in Del Rio this week for relatives to send the $439 in bus fare to get to Springfield, Ohio, where Jean’s brother lives. Michel, who is pregnant, huddled under the little shade the parking lot had to offer from the brutal heat. Her only request was for sunscreen that she softly rubbed on her pregnant belly.

On the concrete in front of them lay two backpacks and a black garbage bag which held everything the couple owns. The pair left in Haiti in April and were in the Del Rio camp for five days. Jean said because his wife is expecting, they were released from the camp on Monday.

“I entered by crossing the river,” Jean said. “Immigration gave me a ticket.”

The system is a “black box,” said Wade McMullen, an attorney with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, who was in Del Rio. “Right now, we have no official access to understand what processes are under way, what protections are being provided for the migrants.”

Accounts of wide-scale releases — some observed at the Del Rio bus station by Associated Press journalists -- are at odds with statements Monday by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who traveled to Del Rio to promise swift action.

“If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned, your journey will not succeed, and you will be endangering your life and your family’s life,” he said at a news conference.

Homeland Security, asked to comment on releases in the United States, said Wednesday that migrants who are not immediately expelled to Haiti may be detained or released with a notice to appear in immigration court or report to an immigration office, depending on available custody space.

“The Biden Administration has reiterated that our borders are not open, and people should not make the dangerous journey,” the department said in a statement. “Individuals and families are subject to border restrictions, including expulsion.”

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-immigration-mexico-texas-haiti-b7c55977dcb543262aae0e4ac0acd115">Mexico has begun busing and flying Haitian migrants away from the U.S. border,</a>&nbsp;signaling a new level of support for the United States as the camp presented President Joe Biden with a humanitarian and increasingly political challenge.

The White House is facing sharp bipartisan condemnation. Republicans say Biden administration policies led Haitians to believe they would get asylum. Democrats are expressing outrage after images went viral this week of Border Patrol agents on horseback using aggressive tactics against the migrants.

Immigrants have described a screening process at the camp where individuals are given a colored tickets for four categories: single men; single women; pregnant women; and families with young children, McMullen said. The vast majority of immigrants he and other advocates have interviewed and who have been released into the U.S. have been families with young children and pregnant women.

About 200 migrants were released on Monday in Del Rio. About 50 of them, mostly Haitian and many pregnant or with small children, boarded a bus to Houston, from where they would fly to destinations across the country. The Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition advocacy group arranged the charter bus and supplied sack lunches of a sandwich and cookies.

After an initial stay with family in San Antonio, Veillard eventually hopes to get to New York City to live with his sister. He will take any job he can find to support his growing family.

Veillard and his wife left Haiti four years ago and had been living in Brazil until they began their journey to the United States in June, much of it on foot.

“I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow but now I feel lucky,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317716965.png" alt="Migrants at the Texas border this week- photo Rep. Tony Gonzales" />
 <figcaption>Migrants at the Texas border this week- photo Rep. Tony Gonzales</figcaption>
 </figure>DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Three hours after being freed from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-mexico-texas-caribbean-united-states-ac7f598bafd44b3f95b786d2d800f3ce">giant migrant camp&nbsp;</a>under an international bridge, Mackenson Veillard stood outside a gas station and took stock of his sudden good fortune as he and pregnant wife waited for a Greyhound bus to take them to a cousin in San Antonio.The couple camped with thousands for a week under the bridge in Del Rio, Texas, sleeping on concrete and getting by on bread and bottled water.“I felt so stressed,” Veillard, 25, said this week. “But now, I feel better. It’s like I’m starting a new life.”Many Haitian migrants in Del Rio are being released in the United States, according to two U.S. officials, undercutting the Biden administration’s public statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion to Haiti.Haitians have been freed on a “very, very large scale” in recent days, one official said Tuesday. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter and thus spoke on condition of anonymity, put the figure in the thousands.Many have been released with notices to appear at an immigration office within 60 days, an outcome that requires less processing time from Border Patrol agents than ordering an appearance in immigration court and points to the speed at which authorities are moving.The releases come despite a massive effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/port-au-prince-haiti-c01b09afb49c4586fdd718031d32402a">expel Haitians on flights</a>&nbsp;under pandemic-related authority that denies migrants a chance to seek asylum. A third U.S. official not authorized to discuss operations said there were seven daily flights to Haiti planned starting Wednesday.Ten flights arrived in Haiti from Sunday to Tuesday in planes designed for 135 passengers, according to Haitian officials, who didn’t provide a complete count but said six of those flights carried 713 migrants combined.The camp held more than 14,000 people over the weekend, according to some estimates. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, during a visit Tuesday to Del Rio, said the county’s top official told him the most recent tally was about 8,600 migrants. U.S. authorities have declined to say how many have been released in the U.S. in recent days.The Homeland Security Department has been busing Haitians from Del Rio, a town of 35,000 people, to El Paso, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley along the Texas border, and this week added flights to Tucson, Arizona, the official said. They are processed by the Border Patrol at those locations.Criteria for deciding who is flown to Haiti and who is released in the U.S. is a mystery but two officials said single adults were a priority. If previous handling of asylum-seekers is any guide, the administration is more likely to release those deemed vulnerable, including pregnant women, families with young children and those with medical issues.The Biden administration exempts unaccompanied children from expulsion flights on humanitarian grounds.Wilgens Jean and his wife Junia Michel waited in Del Rio this week for relatives to send the $439 in bus fare to get to Springfield, Ohio, where Jean’s brother lives. Michel, who is pregnant, huddled under the little shade the parking lot had to offer from the brutal heat. Her only request was for sunscreen that she softly rubbed on her pregnant belly.On the concrete in front of them lay two backpacks and a black garbage bag which held everything the couple owns. The pair left in Haiti in April and were in the Del Rio camp for five days. Jean said because his wife is expecting, they were released from the camp on Monday.“I entered by crossing the river,” Jean said. “Immigration gave me a ticket.”The system is a “black box,” said Wade McMullen, an attorney with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, who was in Del Rio. “Right now, we have no official access to understand what processes are under way, what protections are being provided for the migrants.”Accounts of wide-scale releases — some observed at the Del Rio bus station by Associated Press journalists -- are at odds with statements Monday by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who traveled to Del Rio to promise swift action.“If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned, your journey will not succeed, and you will be endangering your life and your family’s life,” he said at a news conference.Homeland Security, asked to comment on releases in the United States, said Wednesday that migrants who are not immediately expelled to Haiti may be detained or released with a notice to appear in immigration court or report to an immigration office, depending on available custody space.“The Biden Administration has reiterated that our borders are not open, and people should not make the dangerous journey,” the department said in a statement. “Individuals and families are subject to border restrictions, including expulsion.”Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-immigration-mexico-texas-haiti-b7c55977dcb543262aae0e4ac0acd115">Mexico has begun busing and flying Haitian migrants away from the U.S. border,</a>&nbsp;signaling a new level of support for the United States as the camp presented President Joe Biden with a humanitarian and increasingly political challenge.The White House is facing sharp bipartisan condemnation. Republicans say Biden administration policies led Haitians to believe they would get asylum. Democrats are expressing outrage after images went viral this week of Border Patrol agents on horseback using aggressive tactics against the migrants.Immigrants have described a screening process at the camp where individuals are given a colored tickets for four categories: single men; single women; pregnant women; and families with young children, McMullen said. The vast majority of immigrants he and other advocates have interviewed and who have been released into the U.S. have been families with young children and pregnant women.About 200 migrants were released on Monday in Del Rio. About 50 of them, mostly Haitian and many pregnant or with small children, boarded a bus to Houston, from where they would fly to destinations across the country. The Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition advocacy group arranged the charter bus and supplied sack lunches of a sandwich and cookies.After an initial stay with family in San Antonio, Veillard eventually hopes to get to New York City to live with his sister. He will take any job he can find to support his growing family.Veillard and his wife left Haiti four years ago and had been living in Brazil until they began their journey to the United States in June, much of it on foot.“I don’t know how I’m going to feel tomorrow but now I feel lucky,” he said.___

Officials: Many migrants from border camp staying in US

By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt still doesn't have the language of the rule proposed by President Joe Biden earlier this month that would give employers with over 100 employees the choice to vaccinate or frequently test their employees for COVID-19.

"Those rules have not been published yet and so we continue to wait," Schmidt said. "We have to see them before we have a chance to evaluate their legality, which I think is suspect on its face and then decide how we're going to challenge them."

Schmidt notes that the legal ground is different for some of the other potential mandates from the administration.

"There's the so-called CMS mandate, the mandate for nursing home workers and for public health workers," Schmidt said. "We're in the process with some other states of really taking a hard look at those to see if there's a legal basis to challenge them. They're a little legally different from the general employer mandate. The analysis is a bit different. The bottom line, I was talking with some folks the other day who operate nursing facilities, long-term care facilities in Kansas and they said they are losing employees."

According to a survey from the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, 86 percent of nursing homes and 77 percent of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse over the last three months.

"At the end of the day, we have a number of facilities that barely are hanging on as it is," Schmidt said. "They have trouble getting employees. The last thing we need is a federal mandate that puts long-term care facilities out of business in this state."

Only one percent of nursing homes nationally describe themselves as fully staffed.

By NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com/">Hutch Post</a>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt still doesn't have the language of the rule proposed by President Joe Biden earlier this month that would give employers with over 100 employees the choice to vaccinate or frequently test their employees for COVID-19."Those rules have not been published yet and so we continue to wait," Schmidt said. "We have to see them before we have a chance to evaluate their legality, which I think is suspect on its face and then decide how we're going to challenge them."Schmidt notes that the legal ground is different for some of the other potential mandates from the administration."There's the so-called CMS mandate, the mandate for nursing home workers and for public health workers," Schmidt said. "We're in the process with some other states of really taking a hard look at those to see if there's a legal basis to challenge them. They're a little legally different from the general employer mandate. The analysis is a bit different. The bottom line, I was talking with some folks the other day who operate nursing facilities, long-term care facilities in Kansas and they said they are losing employees."According to a survey from the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, 86 percent of nursing homes and 77 percent of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse over the last three months."At the end of the day, we have a number of facilities that barely are hanging on as it is," Schmidt said. "They have trouble getting employees. The last thing we need is a federal mandate that puts long-term care facilities out of business in this state."Only one percent of nursing homes nationally describe themselves as fully staffed.

Kansas AG: Don't mandate longterm care facilities out of business

DETROIT (AP) — Over 30 million air bags in more than 200 models from 20 car and truck makers are being investigated by a U.S. safety agency because they have the potential to explode and hurl shrapnel.

In a document posted Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened the probe into air bag inflators made from 2011 through 2019 by now-bankrupt Takata that weren’t recalled previously.

The probe could reverse a decision made in May of last year not to recall the inflators, which contain a moisture-absorbing chemical called a dessicant.

It wasn’t clear what prompted the agency to open the investigation. Last year, it decided against recalling the inflators, based largely on industry research, and said it would monitor them.

“While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled dessicated inflators,” the agency said in the document.

Included in the probe are models made by Honda, Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis), General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler Vans, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mazda, Karma, Fisker, Spartan Fire vehicles.

Some of the most popular vehicles in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2021/INOA-EA21002-7663.PDF" target="_blank">are identified in the probe</a>, including certain Chevrolet Silverado pickups from 2014 and 2015, some Jeep Grand Cherokees from 2011 through 2019 and the Honda CR-V from 2012 through 2015.

The document posted Tuesday said none of the inflators under investigation have blown apart while in use. About 25 million vehicles have the questionable driver or front passenger inflators that were installed at the factory. At least 5 million more had the inflators installed as replacement parts for more dangerous Takata inflators that have been recalled.

NHTSA didn’t immediately comment when asked what changed, prompting it to open the investigation. The agency said in a statement Monday that drivers don’t need to take any action. “NHTSA will conduct a thorough investigation, and should we determine that a safety defect exists, we will act,” the agency said.

At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-business-61e8b31d57720ccfe704d2bd500b096c">19 people in the U.S. and 28 worldwide have been killed&nbsp;</a>by exploding Takata inflators. More than 400 have been injured in the U.S.

The Japanese company used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can become more volatile over time when exposed to moisture in the air and high temperatures. The explosion can blow apart a metal canister and hurl shrapnel into the passenger compartment.

The problem caused the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million inflators recalled. About 17 million had not been repaired as of January. Worldwide, around 100 million inflators have been recalled.

Takata added the dessicant to absorb moisture and stop the ammonium nitrate from deteriorating. But in the document, NHTSA said at some point the dessicants will become saturated. In the most hot and humid locations, saturation can take place in five years, the agency said.

Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, said he’s not sure what caused the agency to change from last year. But he said NHTSA is opening the probe before something bad happens. “What’s refreshing here is that NHTSA is taking a step that says we don’t have to wait for a body count. That’s great,” Levine said.

Under President Donald Trump, the agency enacted few safety regulations and was less active in regulating the industry than under past administrations. But Levine said it is being far more active under President Joe Biden.

Levine said the agency should have begun the investigation last year so owners of vehicles with the questionable inflators could know by now whether their air bag systems are safe or whether they’re defective.

“It leaves consumers in an unnecessary state of concern,” Levine said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576782225717.png" alt="photo National Highway Traffic Safety Administration" />
 <figcaption>photo National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Over 30 million air bags in more than 200 models from 20 car and truck makers are being investigated by a U.S. safety agency because they have the potential to explode and hurl shrapnel.In a document posted Tuesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it opened the probe into air bag inflators made from 2011 through 2019 by now-bankrupt Takata that weren’t recalled previously.The probe could reverse a decision made in May of last year not to recall the inflators, which contain a moisture-absorbing chemical called a dessicant.It wasn’t clear what prompted the agency to open the investigation. Last year, it decided against recalling the inflators, based largely on industry research, and said it would monitor them.“While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled dessicated inflators,” the agency said in the document.Included in the probe are models made by Honda, Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis), General Motors, Ford, Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Daimler Vans, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Mazda, Karma, Fisker, Spartan Fire vehicles.Some of the most popular vehicles in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2021/INOA-EA21002-7663.PDF" target="_blank">are identified in the probe</a>, including certain Chevrolet Silverado pickups from 2014 and 2015, some Jeep Grand Cherokees from 2011 through 2019 and the Honda CR-V from 2012 through 2015.The document posted Tuesday said none of the inflators under investigation have blown apart while in use. About 25 million vehicles have the questionable driver or front passenger inflators that were installed at the factory. At least 5 million more had the inflators installed as replacement parts for more dangerous Takata inflators that have been recalled.NHTSA didn’t immediately comment when asked what changed, prompting it to open the investigation. The agency said in a statement Monday that drivers don’t need to take any action. “NHTSA will conduct a thorough investigation, and should we determine that a safety defect exists, we will act,” the agency said.At least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-business-61e8b31d57720ccfe704d2bd500b096c">19 people in the U.S. and 28 worldwide have been killed&nbsp;</a>by exploding Takata inflators. More than 400 have been injured in the U.S.The Japanese company used ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical can become more volatile over time when exposed to moisture in the air and high temperatures. The explosion can blow apart a metal canister and hurl shrapnel into the passenger compartment.The problem caused the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with at least 67 million inflators recalled. About 17 million had not been repaired as of January. Worldwide, around 100 million inflators have been recalled.Takata added the dessicant to absorb moisture and stop the ammonium nitrate from deteriorating. But in the document, NHTSA said at some point the dessicants will become saturated. In the most hot and humid locations, saturation can take place in five years, the agency said.Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group, said he’s not sure what caused the agency to change from last year. But he said NHTSA is opening the probe before something bad happens. “What’s refreshing here is that NHTSA is taking a step that says we don’t have to wait for a body count. That’s great,” Levine said.Under President Donald Trump, the agency enacted few safety regulations and was less active in regulating the industry than under past administrations. But Levine said it is being far more active under President Joe Biden.Levine said the agency should have begun the investigation last year so owners of vehicles with the questionable inflators could know by now whether their air bag systems are safe or whether they’re defective.“It leaves consumers in an unnecessary state of concern,” Levine said.

US probes Takata air bags in 200 models from 20 automakers

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-09-21/kansas-courts-uphold-the-nations-toughest-rules-for-tracking-people-after-conviction">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — People on criminal registries in Kansas face felony charges for getting a new email address without alerting law enforcement.

It’s just one of the ways that <a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/registeredoffender/FAQ.aspx" target="_blank">criminal registries</a> in Kansas restrict a broad range of people even after they’ve completed probation and parole.

The
 Kansas Supreme Court ruled in a pair of cases last week that the 
state’s criminal registry laws — among the most sweeping in the country —
 are constitutional.

“Dissemination of registration information 
does not rise to the level of public shaming, does not impose an 
affirmative disability or restraint, are not excessive, and are 
rationally connected to a nonpunitive purpose,” the court wrote in its 
ruling.

Both cases involved people convicted of offenses that 
required they be on the list, but only for certain periods of time. The 
state Legislature later amended the Kansas Offender Registration Act 
requiring those people stay on the list for life and comply with a range
 of requirements to keep the state clued in to a variety of changes in 
their lives.

Both cases challenged the law as unconstitutional 
because they added requirements that didn’t exist at the time the crimes
 were committed.

<a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/119796_2.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">In one case</a>,
 the offender was originally sentenced at age 14 and didn’t serve time 
in prison. But a later change in the statute meant the child offender is
 legally required to live up to the rules of the criminal registry for 
life. Justice Eric Rosen dissented with the court’s majority and argued 
that being on the list is “effective banishment.”

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2018-02-20/can-registries-cover-too-many-crimes-kansas-legislation-suggests-a-rollback" target="_blank">A 2018 investigation by the Kansas News</a>
 Service found that the state’s online registry was more extensive and 
had more stringent requirements than those in force in virtually any 
other state. People convicted of drug, violent or sex crimes must 
register on the list.

Whether they were convicted of serious 
felonies or misdemeanors, registrants must check in with their sheriff’s
 office and pay $20 every three months. Changing jobs, getting a tattoo 
or buying a car, boat or any other vehicle would also require a check-in
 within three days of the change. People on the registry without 
permanent addresses need to check in monthly.

Missing check-ins or falling behind $40 on fees for more than two weeks is a felony.

The
 person who was convicted when they were 14 — identified only as N.R. in
 the case — became homeless, had his life put in danger and faced an 
“insurmountable financial strain” because of the requirements to remain 
on the list, according to the plea challenging the law.

“Countless
 jurists, scholars, and social scientists have confirmed how common 
these burdens are to those required to register,” Rosen wrote in his 
dissent. “Today, the court eschews the United States Constitution and 
the citizens it stands to protect for reasons I cannot comprehend.”

Rosen also dissented in <a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/119759_1.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">Davidson v. State of Kansas</a>, arguing again that “the oppressive and onerous requirements of offender registration are punitive.”

The
 majority of the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state Legislature 
didn’t intend for the system to be a punishment, and therefore can’t be 
considered cruel or unusual punishment. Local law enforcement also 
supports keeping the registry intact, saying it keeps Kansans informed 
on potential “hazards for their child.”

“Choices have 
consequences,” Greg Smith, a former state senator, told the Kansas News 
Service in 2018. “If you don’t want to register, don’t do the crime.”

The
 registry has continued to grow in recent years. Jennifer Roth, a Kansas
 public defender, said there are more than 20,000 people on the list. 
She said the list isn’t “grounded in research, evidence, science (or) 
data.”

Rosen wrote registries do little to affect recidivism rates.

Critics
 of the Kansas registry have been pushing for changes in recent years, 
saying the system contributes to jail and prison overcrowding by putting
 people behind bars for failing to meet its rigid requirements.

Roth,
 who is also co-chair of the legislative committee of the Kansas 
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, worked on legislation that 
would reduce penalties for non-compliance and allow Kansans to get off 
the list early. Last year, a bill passed out of a Kansas House committee
 and then stalled.

The Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission is now considering some of those recommendations.

“I
 have seen movements over the years in the members of the public and 
people who are elected to the Legislature in Kansas,” Roth said, “where 
they really are seeing that there’s some unfairness to this.”

Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632317038841.png" alt="The state’s criminal registry is constitutional, the Kansas Supreme Court says, despite critics saying it is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. This map from the registry shows the location of people who must comply with its rules." />
 <figcaption>The state’s criminal registry is constitutional, the Kansas Supreme Court says, despite critics saying it is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. This map from the registry shows the location of people who must comply with its rules.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-09-21/kansas-courts-uphold-the-nations-toughest-rules-for-tracking-people-after-conviction">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — People on criminal registries in Kansas face felony charges for getting a new email address without alerting law enforcement.It’s just one of the ways that <a href="https://www.kbi.ks.gov/registeredoffender/FAQ.aspx" target="_blank">criminal registries</a> in Kansas restrict a broad range of people even after they’ve completed probation and parole.The
 Kansas Supreme Court ruled in a pair of cases last week that the 
state’s criminal registry laws — among the most sweeping in the country —
 are constitutional.“Dissemination of registration information 
does not rise to the level of public shaming, does not impose an 
affirmative disability or restraint, are not excessive, and are 
rationally connected to a nonpunitive purpose,” the court wrote in its 
ruling.Both cases involved people convicted of offenses that 
required they be on the list, but only for certain periods of time. The 
state Legislature later amended the Kansas Offender Registration Act 
requiring those people stay on the list for life and comply with a range
 of requirements to keep the state clued in to a variety of changes in 
their lives.Both cases challenged the law as unconstitutional 
because they added requirements that didn’t exist at the time the crimes
 were committed.<a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/119796_2.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">In one case</a>,
 the offender was originally sentenced at age 14 and didn’t serve time 
in prison. But a later change in the statute meant the child offender is
 legally required to live up to the rules of the criminal registry for 
life. Justice Eric Rosen dissented with the court’s majority and argued 
that being on the list is “effective banishment.”<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2018-02-20/can-registries-cover-too-many-crimes-kansas-legislation-suggests-a-rollback" target="_blank">A 2018 investigation by the Kansas News</a>
 Service found that the state’s online registry was more extensive and 
had more stringent requirements than those in force in virtually any 
other state. People convicted of drug, violent or sex crimes must 
register on the list.Whether they were convicted of serious 
felonies or misdemeanors, registrants must check in with their sheriff’s
 office and pay $20 every three months. Changing jobs, getting a tattoo 
or buying a car, boat or any other vehicle would also require a check-in
 within three days of the change. People on the registry without 
permanent addresses need to check in monthly.Missing check-ins or falling behind $40 on fees for more than two weeks is a felony.The
 person who was convicted when they were 14 — identified only as N.R. in
 the case — became homeless, had his life put in danger and faced an 
“insurmountable financial strain” because of the requirements to remain 
on the list, according to the plea challenging the law.“Countless
 jurists, scholars, and social scientists have confirmed how common 
these burdens are to those required to register,” Rosen wrote in his 
dissent. “Today, the court eschews the United States Constitution and 
the citizens it stands to protect for reasons I cannot comprehend.”Rosen also dissented in <a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/119759_1.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">Davidson v. State of Kansas</a>, arguing again that “the oppressive and onerous requirements of offender registration are punitive.”The
 majority of the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state Legislature 
didn’t intend for the system to be a punishment, and therefore can’t be 
considered cruel or unusual punishment. Local law enforcement also 
supports keeping the registry intact, saying it keeps Kansans informed 
on potential “hazards for their child.”“Choices have 
consequences,” Greg Smith, a former state senator, told the Kansas News 
Service in 2018. “If you don’t want to register, don’t do the crime.”The
 registry has continued to grow in recent years. Jennifer Roth, a Kansas
 public defender, said there are more than 20,000 people on the list. 
She said the list isn’t “grounded in research, evidence, science (or) 
data.”Rosen wrote registries do little to affect recidivism rates.Critics
 of the Kansas registry have been pushing for changes in recent years, 
saying the system contributes to jail and prison overcrowding by putting
 people behind bars for failing to meet its rigid requirements.Roth,
 who is also co-chair of the legislative committee of the Kansas 
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, worked on legislation that 
would reduce penalties for non-compliance and allow Kansans to get off 
the list early. Last year, a bill passed out of a Kansas House committee
 and then stalled.The Kansas Criminal Justice Reform Commission is now considering some of those recommendations.“I
 have seen movements over the years in the members of the public and 
people who are elected to the Legislature in Kansas,” Roth said, “where 
they really are seeing that there’s some unfairness to this.”Blaise
 Mesa reports on criminal justice and social services for the Kansas 
News Service in Topeka. You can follow him on Twitter @Blaise_Mesa or 
email him at blaise@kcur.org.

Kansas courts uphold nation's toughest offender tracking rules

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,562 to a total of 401,931 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 3 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5919.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2,562 to a total of 401,931 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 3 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5919.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.